After the first T20 International between India and New Zealand played at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi, there were media reports about Indian captain Virat Kohli breaching the International Cricket Council (ICC’s) Code of Conduct while speaking on the walkie talkie since the match was on.
#BREAKING: Virat Kohli in trouble after allegedly spotted using a walkie-talkie during a T-20 match which violates the ICC code pic.twitter.com/UL62UR9N4A
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) November 2, 2017
Here’s the true story:
A BCCI official has cleared that the use of walkie-talkie devices with prior permission of match officials is allowed during a game and Virat Kohli did the same.
“While it is generally the support staff that uses walkie-talkie devices during a game, a player is also permitted to use the same with prior permission,” the BCCI official said while speaking to Cricketnext.
He also told that Kohli had taken prior permission from the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit for using the device.
When the ICC was enquired about it they also gave the Indian captain a clean chit on the issue.
#BREAKING: ICC gives clean chit to Virat Kohli, Virat had sought prior permission from ICC to use walkie-talkie #WalkieTalkieVirat
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) November 2, 2017
The article 4 of ICC’s rules on the use of communication devices in the player and match official area (PMOA) states the following:
a) 4.1.1 no person shall be allowed to use and/or carry any Mobile Device for any reason whatsoever, whether to access the Internet or otherwise, in the PMOA
b) 4.1.2 no person shall be allowed to use and/or carry, any laptop computer (or any other similar communication device) for any reason whatsoever, whether to access the Internet or otherwise, in the PMOA
c) 4.1.3 no person shall be allowed to use any static/landline (or similar) telephone capable of making calls from inside or receiving calls from outside the PMOA
As it stands Virat Kohli was not in breach of any of the above rules.
